Job Hunters Group: Tips on Evaluating Your Opportunities

(July 10, 2013) Our Job Hunters series continued last week with a seminar led by Julie Gerbsch ’09. The topic was Evaluating Your Opportunities, which focused both on how to decide which opportunities to pursue and whether to accept a job offer. Here are some of the tips from the evening:

Temp jobs can help you get on the inside of company so you can know what is available there and whether you would like to work there.

You should fill out applications at your temp placements.

Talk to people at your temp placements to build your network.

Be open minded as you're listening to possible opportunities...only a small percentage of people get their jobs by responding to a traditional ad.

It is easier to find a job if you already have one, even if you are working only part time.

O*net Online is a great web resource to give you details about the skills, knowledge, etc. you need for specific types of jobs.

O*net also tells you what kind of tasks you'll do in each job and what you can expect to earn.

Candid Career will give you positive and negative insights about jobs from people in those careers.

Avoid bringing up salary on first interview.

Remember a job is about more than just salary, consider quality of life, growth opportunities, etc.

Use your instincts and judgment to determine if a job offer is right for you.

Know what your "deal breakers" are. Write down what you must have ahead of time and use that list to objectively evaluate offers later.

In addition to salary, consider your responsibilities, schedule, work environment, benefits, leave, retirement, profit sharing, parking/transportation, childcare, flex scheduling, and other elements that might be important to you.

Ask yourself if the job fits your long-term career or personal goals, if the company's values match yours, and if the job fits your lifestyle.

Remember better benefits can mean lower salary.

Salary.com shows comprehensive salary and benefits for different jobs AND cost of living for different locales.

The Job Hunters series concludes on July 16 with a session on Applying to Federal Jobs led by Peter Hoffman, director of Armstrong’s Liberty Center. It starts at 6 p.m. Please register online.